Sign.



No. 896,328. I PATENTBD AUG. 18,1908.

G. J. B. RODWELL.

SIGN.

FILED W II rfllll l l lllill. illlllllnl WITNESSES;

iJNITED STATES Pa e o Ero-E.

GEORGE J. B. RODWELL, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RODWELL SIGN'ooMPANi', OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION-OF NEW YORK.

SIG-N.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au ie, 1908.

Application filed November 2, 1904. Serial No. 231,071

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE V WELL, residmg atBuffalo, in theco'unty ofErie and State of New'York, haveinvented certain new and usefulImprovements in Signs, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains -to make and use the same.

This invention relates to signs, display cards and articles of a likenature; A general object is toprovide a simple inexpensive device of theabove type which sha attract and hold the attention of -ab passer.

Another object is to provide a durable de-i vice of the above type inwhich letters or other designs of any desired configuration scribed andthe scope of the a plicationof which will be indicated in t claims. k vi In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of various possibleembodiments e following of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of thesame. Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line ocw of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged detail section taken upon the above line.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Preliminary to a description of my invention, it may be noted that indevices of the nature of those with which this invention deals, it isnecessary thatv the lettering or other design be rominent and stand outas clearly as possib e from the. surrounding surface. This is bestaccomplished b making this part appear luminous, either y means of lightfrom an independent source transmitted through the same or by means ofrefleeting the light cast upon the outer surface thereof. Obviously, thelatter is the simpler and more economical course, but it necessi- J. B.Ronand.

there is represented at 1 a" tates the protection of the reflectingsurface in order to revent any natural accumulation thereon. t is alsohighly desirable that this reflecting surface be provided withdepressions whereby an irregular reflection is attained and an artistic.effect produced which readily attracts attention. In order best toattain the above results it is requisite to use-a soft metal reflectingmember, as, for example, tin, as a hard surface will not take 'a'shareimpression from the die by which it is shaped.

If metal of this nature is used, it is necessary to protect the samefrom varying conditions of use The above and other advantages-areattalned 1n constructions of the nature. of that herein'described.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, plate, preferably of glass orsimilar material, t e rear surface of which is ainted as at 2 or theplateis otherwise ren 'ered opaque except in certain portions having theconfiguration of the design which it is desired to form. Beneath thesetranslucent arts 3 is a thin metallic sheet 4 of soft meta preferablysolidtin, which as here shown extends substantially over the entire rearsurface of the plate 1. This sheet. 4 is stam ed or otherwise formed,

distortion under preferably by a ie, so as .tohaveover the outer surfacebeneath the translucent parts 3 a series of similar depressions 5. Theartistic effect is enhanced if certain lar er de-- pressions .6 areprovided of a jewel form, that is, having a number of symmetricallyarranged facets similar to those formed upon the outer convex, surface,of some out stones.

Over these large. depressions or jewels, u on the rear surface oftheglass is a thin film of translucent coloring .mat'ter, 7 whichcorresponds in outline with the depression over which it is placed andthus gives the effect of a colorc'dg stone.

Although the. soft man which provides. thereflecting surface is well adated to re' ceive' a sharp impression from te die and otherwise toperform the functions which it is intended to accomplish, neverthelessit is highly desirable to provide some protective cover for the same inorder to. prevent bend- .ing, tearing or other distortion or mutilationthereof. This is pref'erabl accomplished by means of a thin plate 8-ofharder metal, as, for example, brass. -.This plate is stamped by thesame die with which the sheet 4 is formed and thus'receives asurfacecorrethe sheet or backin 8 are turned over the beveled edges of saidplate. If desired, a

. chain 10' may be connected to the'backing 8 by means of eyes 11 andthe sign is thus adapted to be suspended in'any desired position.

. By the word soft as used throu hout this description and in thefollowing o aims it is intended to describe a substance havin about thesame degree of malleability an ductility as substantially pure tin. The

' expression, however, is used 111 a broad sense and is intended tocomprehend. a considerable range of these qualities, the idea which itis intended to bring forth being that the substance which is describedthereby is well adapted to receive a sharp impression from a die and isnevertheless somewhat liable to distortion or mutilation if un rotected.

The word hard as used herein. an throughout the claims is used in arelative sense.

The method of use of the invention herein qdescribed will be obvious,but it may be noted that the application of the same is extremely broadand in no wise limited to the form of portable sign or display cardhereindescribed.

' It Will thus be seen that I have provided a durable, simple andinexpensive s1 11 or display card and that the same is wel adapted toattract and hold attention. The appearance of the same is artistic andthe construc- 1. In a device of the class described, .in

combination, a member having translucent portions of a predeterminedconfiguration, a soft metallic member resting against saidfirst-mentioned member opposite the translucent portions thereof, saidmetallic 'member being provided with aplura lity of depressions upon thesurface thereof exposed through said translucent portions of saidfirst-mentioned member, and coloring. matter interposed between saidtranslucent member and the depressions. in said soft metallic member.

2. In a device of the class described, 1n

depressions in said soft metallic mt iiber, and

combination, a member having a translucent 'portion of a predeterminedconfiguration, a

soft metallic member resting against said first-mentioned memberopposite the translucent portion thereof, said second mentioned memberbeing provided with depressions, coloring matter interposed between saidtranslucent portion and a portion of the a protective covering over saiddepressions. 3. In a device of the class described, in combination, amember having certain portions thereof translucent and o a predetermined-configuration, a soft metallic plate resting against said member andhaving depressions in the exposed surface thereof, and a second memberhaving similar de ressions registering with said first-mentionedepressions and adapted to protect the same from distortion.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havingtranslucent portions of a predetermined configuration, a relatively softmetallic member resting against said first-mentioned member and havingdepressions therein opposite said translucent portions, coloring matterinterposed between saidfirst-mentioned member and said depressions, anda relatively hard metallic member having similar depressions registeringwith said first-mentioned depressions and adapted to protectthe samefrom distortion.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havingtranslucent portions of a predetermined configuration,

a relatively soft metallic member resting, against said first-mentionedmember and having depressions therein opposite said translucentportions, coloringmatter interposed between said first-mentioned memberand said depressions, and arelatively hard metallic member havingsimilar depressions registering with said'first-inentioned depressionsand adapted to protect the same from distortion, the edges of, said lastmentionedv member projecting beyond and being bent over. saidfirst-mentioned member.

6. In. a device of the class'described, in combination, a memberprovided with translucent portions of a predetermined configuration, asoft metallic member resting against said first-mentioned member andprovided with depressions at. points opposite said translucent portions,and a member provided with similar depressions-registering with andfitting the rear surface of said first-mentioned member, the edges ofsaid last-mentioned member projecting beyond and being bent over theedges of said firstmentioned member.

7 In a device of'the class described, in combination, a member havingcertain portions thereof translucent of a predetermined configuration, arelatively soft metallic plate resting against said member and havingdea pressions in the exposed surface thereof, and a second relativelyhard member having similar depressions registering with saidfirstmentioned depressions and adapted to protect the same fromdistortion.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a translucentmember having a portion of the surface of one of its sides covered withzirelatively opaque substance, the uncovered portion being of apredetermined configuration, a soft metallic member resting against saidfirst-mentioned member opposite the uncovered portion thereof, ,andcolorin matter interposed between the uncovere portion of saidtranslucent member and said soft metallic member.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havingtranslucent portions of a predetermined configuration, a second memberresting against said firstmentioned member having a plurality ofdepressions each constituted by a series of sym- 'metrically arrangedreflecting facets arranged opposite said translucent portions,

and ,translucent coloring matter interposed between said translucentportions and said depressions.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havingtranslucent portionsof a predetermined configuration, a soft metallicmember resting against" said first-mentioned member havinga series ofdepressions, each depression constituted by a plurality of symmetricallyarranged reflecting facets, said depressions being arranged opposite thetranslucent portions of said first-mentloned member, and translucentcoloring matter interposed between the translucent portions of saidfirst-mentioned member and the depressions of said secondmen'tionedmember.

11:. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havinga translucent portionof a predetermined configuration, 'a soft metallicmember resting against said first-mentioned member having a series ofminute depressions, and a series of larger depressions, said largerdepressions being con stituted by a series of symmetrically arrangedfacets adapted to form a brilliant reflecting surface, all of saiddepressions being arranged opposite said translucent portions.

12. In a device of the class described, in

minute depressions and a series of larger depressions, said largerdepressions bein constituted by a series of symmetrica y arranged facetsadapted to form a brilliant reflecting surface, all of said depressionsb ing arranged opposite said translucent porti ns, and translucentcoloring matter interposed between the translucent portion of saidfirstmentioned member and the larger depressions of said soft metallicmember.-

13. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havingtranslucent portions of a predetermined configuration, a relatively softmetallic member resting against said first-mentioned member having aseries of minute depressions, a plurality of lar 'er de )ressions saidlar er de )ressions being constituted by a series of symmetricallyarranged facets adapted -to form a brilliant reflecting surface, all ofsaid depressions being arranged opposite said translucent portions, anda second relatively hard metallic member having similar depressionsregistering with said first-mentioned depressions and adapted to protectthe same from distortion.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member havinga translucent portion of a predetermined configuration, a relativelysoft metallic member resting against said first-mentioned member havingaseries of minute depressions, and a series of larger depressions, saidlarger depressions being constituted by a series of symmetricallyarranged facets adapted to form a brilliant reflectingsurface, all ofsaid depressions being arranged opposite said translucent portions,translucent coloring matter interposed between the translucent portionsof said firstmentioned member and the larger depressions of saidrelatively soft metallic member,

and a second relatively hard metallic mem-

